A court in the UAE has handed down harsh prison sentences to 57 Bangladeshis for participating in protests against their own government while in the Gulf state. The defendants were accused of inciting riots and disrupting public security during the demonstrations.
According to state-run Wam news agency, three of the defendants received life sentences for their involvement in the protests, while 53 others were sentenced to 10 years in prison and one to 11 years. The court-appointed defense lawyer argued that the gatherings had no criminal intent and that the evidence against the defendants was insufficient.
Protests are effectively illegal in the UAE, where the majority of the population is made up of foreigners. Bangladeshis are the third largest expatriate group in the country.
The unrest in the UAE comes amidst ongoing violence in Bangladesh, where more than 150 people have been killed and 500 arrested during protests against government job quotas led by students. The demonstrations have posed a serious challenge to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who has been in power for 15 consecutive years.
The trial of the 57 Bangladeshis in the UAE heard that they had organized large-scale marches in protest against decisions made by the Bangladeshi government, leading to riots and disruption of public security. The court rejected the defendants’ defense and ordered them to be deported after serving their sentences.
Human rights groups have criticized the mass trial in the UAE, which also recently handed down life sentences to 43 human rights defenders and political dissidents for allegedly creating a terrorist organization. Critics argue that the organization was actually an independent advocacy group.
There has been no immediate comment from the Bangladesh government on the court’s decision, but the country’s consulate in Dubai has urged its citizens to respect local laws. The case highlights the challenges faced by expatriates in the UAE who seek to voice their dissent against their home countries while living and working abroad.
